Combined marking machine and cutting blade



Oct. 7, 1947. o M. BRADLEY COMBINED MARKING MACHINE AND CUTTING BLADEFiled Feb. 11, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY-Y.

Oct. 7, 1947. o. M. BRADLEY COMBINED MARKING MACHINE AND CUTTING BLADEFiled Feb. 11, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR fldzzellflfizadig, 4] 4I ATTORNEYS;

Patented Oct. 7, 1947 UNITED COMBINED MARKING MACHINE AND CUTTING BLADEOswell M. Bradley, Richmond, Va.

Application February 11, 1946, Serial No. 646,908

This invention relates to a marking machine and more particularly to acombined marking machine and cutter or tearing blade for use inpreparing identification tabs that are to be attached to each of thearticles being handled in such establishments as dry cleaning plants,laundries and the like.

In the handling of laundry or garments in cleaning establishments thepractice has developed of listing each article to be handled andassigning .to such article or to each article of a particular group, adesignated number or other identifying data, by printing such data onfabric tapes, after which the tapes are severed and each individualgarment or article is identified by securing there .to the severed tapebearing the proper indicia thereon.

This process of marking has been carried out by means of conventionaland Well known machines such as those put out by the Burroughs AddingMachine Co., in which type of machine a tape is fed to a tabulatingcarriage and around a roller platen into position to be acted upon bythe printing bars.

Heretofore attempts have been made to provide a cutter or tearing bladefor such machines by means of which the tapes can be severed intosuitable widths for the purpose of attaching the severed portions to thegarment. Of course it is desirable to provide these individual tapes innarrow widths so that when attached to the garments they will not bebulky or unsightly,

In the attempts heretofore made to sever the tape a cutter has beenmounted directly on the tabulating carriage and is fixed thereto so thatit moves with the carriage as it is tabulated.

In such constructions, when mounted on a Burroughs machine of the typeemploying vertically moving type bars, it has been necessary toso mountthe cutter that it is spaced rearwardly from the forward face of theplaten in order that the vertically moving type bars would not engagethe cutting blade as they moved into printing position.

As the result of this construction it has been found that it isimpossible to properly space the numbers along the tape so as to providefor economical use of the tape, and this has resulted,

7 Claims. (Cl; 197-133) first, in waste of the tape, which is relativelyexpensive, because it has been found to be necessarysevered by themachine,

of further trimming the tape after it has been Z The'present inventionis designed to overcome the aforesaid difiiculties and to result in asatisfactory, economical and rapid means of preparing identificationtabs of the proper width, thereby eliminatingwaste of the tape and anyfurther handling thereof after it has been severed in the machine. a

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a cutting ortearing blade in combination with a marking machine,-in such a mannerthat the cutting blade can be operated without interfering with thenormal operation of the marking machine.

A further object is to provide a cutting blade which can be mounted onconventional machines without in any way modifying or changing theconstruction of the machine.

It is a still further object to provide an extremely simple, inexpensiveand efficient cutter suitably attached to the frame of the machine andmovable into engagement with the tape fed around the platen so that thetape can be cut into strips of narrow width suitable for bearing thenecessary identifying indicia and without the necessity for any furthermanual operations once the tape has been severed by the cutter.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription, it being understood that I have illustrated here thepreferred embodiment of the invention but do not intend to limit thesame to details of construction other than those necessitated by theappended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1' is a fragmentary, diagrammatic, perspective view of aconventional marking machine with the cutter applied thereto and showingthe machine in one of its printing positions;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the machine in positionfor severing the tape.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cutter or tearing blade, and

Fig. 4 is a side view of the cutting blade shown 'in operative positionin full lines to engage the tape'an-d in its normal disengaged positionin dotted lines,

, In the drawings I have illustrated the present invention as beingapplied to a standard, conventional power-operated marking machine suchas the machines now on the market manufactured by Burroughs AddingMachine Co., and others.

This includes a housing It] carrying a suitable keyboard ll, operatingkey l2, tabulating carriage i3, roller platen I4 for feeding the tape 4therearo und, and the casing i 5 enclosing the type bars, "which in thisparticulartype of machine consists of a plurality of type bars which areselectively moved vertically into the desired printing position, afterwhich they are forced into printing engagement with the tape or othermatter being printed. Since such machines are of well known constructionfurther description thereof is unnecessary, and it is to be understoodthat the invention is not necessarily limited to application to anyparticular type'of marking machine butis equally applicableto anysuchmachine with which the machine is capable of operation.

In employing marking machines 'oft-his-character it is customary to feeda slip of paper around the roller platen 14 at one end of the platen,such as the left-hand end shown in Fig-1,

tion as shown in dotted liiis in Fig. 4, in which position it is spacedfrom the platen l4 so as to permit the platen carrying the tape to moveinto position behind the blade.

After the platen has been moved so that the tape is in position to becut, the operator pulls the handle 29 so as to force the blade H intoengagement with the tape, after which the tape is drawn across'thecutting edge' of 'theblade.

' For'purposes "of illustration, there has been shown a suitable supplyof tape consisting of a ---reel 3i] journaled in a suitable support 3|,but

-;of course it is to be understood that the source "'of"supp1y for thetape may be provided in any and the tape upon which the identifying datariage is then moved to bring the-identifyingtapers intoprintingposition, as showriin Fig. 1, after which the keys II are operatedto;se1e ct*;the proper number and the operating key depressed, afterwhich the vertically moving printing mem- -bers are elevated-to suitableposition and forcedg against the tape. Where more than one articleislisted and consequently the" "same number must be applied for eacharticle, the printing operation is repeated soas to apply toeach articlein the given bundle the sameidentifyingnumbera After e a ehasb n s itlel rr nt a th carriage is again manually moved in the presentinstance, to the right as seen in Fig. -2,,s o as, to position the tapedirectly to the rear -of the cut- "ting ortearing blade l1. i

The cutting blade 'Il is attachedto the side of the housing I 0 bymeansof a bracket 1 8 provided with an ear ['9 havingv an openingzlltherein through which passes a's' crew for-securingthe ear "l9 to thetop of the-machine. The bracket I8 is provided with apl ur alitytrepertu wm 'to receivesuitable fastening means tosec'ure'the bracket tothe'side face of t'he neuemeao, V The upper end of 'thebracket 'lS'isformeH-With atubular member 22 in which the cutter blade [1 Attachedto t ereer ofthe' lilade I1 is a hinge leaf 23 terminating atsbticdJloops 2lll'ying at opposite ends of 'thetubular portion 22 and 7 heblade ll issecured to theffhiiigefleaf'by means of fastening means suchas'screws 28', and these 'screws 'also serve to-f secure jail operatinghandle 29 to the hinge leaf 23 an'd'b'lade IL As shown, the blade ll iscurved""sojthatthe fi eil th re i firm r n ee th t rounding the platen I4andegtends lgngitudinally ef-the platena distance equal'to the Widthoffi :The oprating han-dle 29 forthebl'ade '11 is such me s an is ezueeneuto the; blad l'! in 'fs'ucHr-elatio that the'fma-jorportionofthe-hanld'e' depend belbwfthe pintle 5.' Consequently, -it Swill be seenI thatf. in its" normal "position the dalejde 11' occupies '8'SubStantiaHYWitiCM posiin' registry therewith to receive the" hingejointle suitable manner.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have 7 provided a cutting ortearing blade for marking machines in which the blade is fixed withreference to the longitudinal movement of the tabulating carriage, andis carried bya stationary part of the machine. Consequently, the cutter--isremoved from any possible'coiiflict with'i'niovee 'ment of thevertical;- printing'ba'rs to thereby avoid the --diffi'culties:hereto'fore* encountered where cutting members have been applied directly-to the tabulating carriage;

In operation, the carriage I iris positioned ias shown in Fig. 1so-thatthe printingimemb'rsiwil engage the tape upon operation thereof.

' After the printingfhas' been 'accomplisheditl'ie carriage ismoved'to-th'e position shown in FigI- Z,

carrying with it the tape; which isiper'mittedfdue {to-the fact that thecutting blade is in its normal :position spaced from "the platen. 'The:handleflS is then operated to'force "the blade "H into-"engagement withthe "tape andthe tarpe -is"-'tor n along the cutting edge thereof. TheplatentM is then rotated to position the-next number 'ralb'ove thecuttin'g edge but closely-rad-j acent '5171181'9130,

which are relatively-small, each bearing'suitable to 'be "printed onbyaiterwhich the next strip is tornfromthe'ftap'e. Thisoperation-isrepeated so that stripsof tape no -definite fixed relationWithreference z torithe movable carriage; it i s apparenti that theidentilf-ying marks can be spaced clo'selys:together "and theblade-operate dtoseverthe stripi-mmedi-ately above and below the.number. 'Consequeiitly',ima-

terial saving in "tape is "accomplished *Iand' tiienecessity-for-trimming :such' tape linrinaited'.

1. The combination with in ki' the type including a hou'si g ainmechanism and i a reeip' thereon: provided with -t feeding tap' around isaid printing niec a.cutting blafde carriedby sai tape when "theearriage has" been recip from printing position to bring'the tapefiintoalignment with s'aid-blad'e. I p

'2: Th ecmbinationvwitn 'a fiiarkin the type includinga housing andhavingimechanis'm' and a reams-eating platen carriage thereon providedwith "-"tape feeding 'guides fr "feeding tape'afoundeeiu piaten '-'to beprinted 'on -by said 'pifinti abutting biaee' pivo'ted'td "aid ousi-ngaha i-rito pesinep eehen sme r many lying 'mg aceu' r'elatibn said latid blade being movable into 1 g tape when the carriagehas""beenreciprocated from printing position to bring the tape into alignmentwith said blade.

3. The combination with a marking machine of the type including ahousing and haVing printing mechanism and a reciprocating platencarriage thereon provided with tape feeding guides for feeding tapearound said platen and into position to be printed on by said printingmechanism, of a cutting blade carried by said housing and normallyspaced from said platen, said blade being mounted for movement intoengagement with said tape when the carriage has been reciprocated fromprinting position to bring the tape into alignment with said blade, andmeans for moving said blade into engagement with said tape to permitseverance thereof.

4. The combination with a marking machine of the type including ahousing and having a printing mechanism and a reciprocating platencarriage thereon provided with tape feeding guides for feeding tapearound said platen and into position to be printed on by said printingmechanism, of a cutting blade carried by said housing and normallyspaced from said platen, said blade being mounted for movement intoengagement with said tape when the carriage has been reciprocated fromprinting position to bring the tape into alignment with said blade, saidblade being movable into engagement with said tape to permit severancethereof, and automatically returnable to its spaced position withreference to said platen.

5. The combination with a marking machine of the type including ahousing and having printing mechanism and a reciprocating platencarriage thereon provided with tape feeding guides for feeding tapearound said platen and into position to be printed on by said printingmechanism, of a cutting blade carried by said housing and normallyspaced from said platen, said blade being mounted for movement intoengagement with said tape when the carriage has been reciprocated fromprinting position to bring the tape into alignment with said blade, andmeans for moving said blade into engagement with said tape to permitseverance thereof, said moving means comprising a weighted handlesecured to said blade for movement thereof against said tape, said bladebeing so pivoted that the weighted handle normally returns the blade tosaid spaced position.

6. An attachment for a marking machine including a housing and havingprintin mechanism and a reciprocating platen carriage thereon providedwith tape feeding guides for feeding tape around said platen and intoposition to be printed on by said printing mechanism comprising acutting blade secured to said housing at one side of the printingmembers, said blade being pivoted for movement into engagement with thetape when the carriage has been reciprocated to move the tape fromprinting position to a position in alignment with said blade.

7. An attachment for a marking machine including a housing and havingprinting mechanism and a reciprocating platen carriage thereon providedwith tape feeding guides for feeding tape around said platen and intoposition to be printed on by said printing mechanism comprising acutting blade secured to said housing at one side of the printingmembers, said blade being pivoted for movement into engagement with thetape when the carriage has been reciprocated to move the tape fromprinting position to a position in alignment with said blade, and meansfor normally maintaining said blade in spaced relation to said platen,said means comprising a weighted handle depending below said pivot andoperable upon release for swinging said blade away from said platen.

OSWELL M. BRADLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 836,143 Ruffin Nov. 20, 19061,566,287 Smith Dec. 22, 1925 2,139,743 Ganger Dec. 13, 1938

